We invite you to participate in Joel R. Anderson Collection of Federal Paper Money that crosses the block March 22 in Baltimore, Maryland. Click here to download your free copy of the catalog and click here to view the lots online. Please enjoy Q. David Bowers’ welcome to the catalog and learn more about Joel R. Anderson from his biography.
Welcome to Part I of the Joel R. Anderson Collection. It has been a pleasure, honor, and privilege to have worked with Joel for many years. Now, as we bring his remarkable cabinet to a new generation of collectors, I am delighted to be at the center of the production of this very special catalog. I recall the excitement when he purchased the first million-dollar note in world numismatic history— the 1890 $1000 "Grand Watermelon." As with all true collectors, his passion for collecting was contagious. His direct involvement with Whitman brought numerous and varied titles to collectors in all series. I remember his great help and advice when I created the Whitman Encyclopedia of United States Paper Money and 100 Greatest American Currency Notes with David Sundman. Working with Joel and his brother Charles in the various programs of Whitman Publishing has been a highlight of my life. As if this were not enough, we’ve had many fine dinners and good times over the years and we plan to continue in years to come.
In cataloging the notes in the pages to follow I sometimes felt that I owned the notes myself—while going over the images, tracking down history, and adding anecdotes here and there. For each note there is information about rarity, price, and grade—but, often, so much more!
I hope you enjoy the presentation as much as I have enjoyed preparing it.
Sincerely,
Q. David Bowers
Co-founder, Stack’s Bowers Galleries
Joel R. Anderson
Joel was born and raised in Florence, Alabama, where he attended the University of North Alabama. He has spent most of his life involved in the family-owned business established by his late father, Clyde W. Anderson, a firm that evolved from the street corner newsstand set up in 1917 when Clyde was forced to leave school at age 14 to support his family.
Joel is active in a variety of civic and philanthropic activities. He has served his community as director and chairman of the board of Riverhill School and as a board member of the Riverhill School Foundation. He has acted as director of Shoals Chamber of Commerce; director of First National Bank; chairman and founder of the Florence Lauderdale Library Foundation; chairman of the Shoals Literacy Council; director of the YMCA, and the FlorenceLauderdale Industrial Expansion Committee. Joel has also served as founder, chairman, and director of the American Fireworks Standards Laboratory and as trustee of the Cardiovascular Institute of Philadelphia. He serves on the Nominating Committee of the University of Alabama Business Hall of Fame and is on the board of directors of a New York City residential building. He serves as trustee and president pro tem elect of the University of North Alabama board of trustees. He is currently a board member of the Alabama Bicentennial Commission. He is a major supporter of the New York City Police Athletic League, the Salvation Army, the United Way of Northwest Alabama, the Children’s Museum of the Shoals, the American Heart Association, and many other community organizations.
His philanthropic, civic, and humanitarian endeavors have been recognized by the Anti-Defamation League when they honored him with their Distinguished Service Award on behalf of human rights, and by Brandeis University with its National Distinguished Community Service Award. In 2003 he was the first recipient of The 25 Year Club Frank Herrera Award, the prestigious national magazine industry award. In 2006 Joel was named Shoals Citizen of the Year. In 2016 he was inducted into the Alabama Business Hall of Fame and received the Lifetime Achievement in Innovation Award from the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama.
For many years, Joel has provided mentoring, and in many cases capital, for young entrepreneurs starting businesses in the Shoals, including a Shoals based retailer whose business grew to have stores in 14 major cities.
Joel has served as chairman and director in the Anderson Companies. Today the principal Anderson Companies include Anderson Media Corporation (which through its Anderson Merchandisers subsidiary is the country’s largest distributor and merchandiser of pre-recorded music and a major distributor of books); TNT Fireworks, the country’s largest importer and distributor of consumer fireworks; Anderson Press, a major publisher of children’s books and associated children’s product; Whitman Publishing Company, the leading publisher of books and related products for coin collectors, and Books-A-Million, the country’s second largest book retailer. Together the Anderson Companies employ over 11,000 associates throughout the United States, Mexico, United Kingdom, Hong Kong and China.
